Illinois EPA Announces Federal Recovery Fund Awards for Projects in Illinois

October 29, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Director Doug Scott announced grants and loans for environmental projects to improve drinking water quality in Illinois, using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The Recovery program was authorized earlier this year by the United States Congress and President Barack Obama.

These towns and sanitary districts have completed the necessary criteria to meet the required “shovel ready” definition. Under ARRA, the state allocates the available funding based on “readiness to proceed” to move projects forward as quickly as possible in order to create badly-needed jobs and to meet critical infrastructure needs. This funding is available through a combination of ARRA and the state’s Revolving Fund.

The federal Recovery program provides a substantial increase in the clean water and drinking water low-interest revolving loan programs administered by Illinois EPA. The program provides financing in the form of grants and zero interest loans to communities for projects such as wastewater treatment plant upgrades and expansions, new sewer lines, drinking water treatment plant modifications and expansions, and new or replacement water distribution systems.

• Aurora will receive a $1,137,278 stimulus loan for three major water main replacement projects in the City. The existing mains are 50-60 years old, have exhibited a consistent pattern of breaks in the recent past, and are inadequate for maintaining water pressure in these areas. The improvements will result in significant water savings and will dramatically reduce service problems. Financing for the projects will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Public Water Supply Loan Program under terms made available by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which are a 20-year loan at zero interest with 25 percent of the principal provided under the loan being “forgiven” by state and federal funding authorities.
  
  In addition, Aurora will use a $4,373,880 ARRA loan for a major combined sewer separation project. The project is designed primarily to reduce the number, frequency and duration of combined sewer overflow events, as well as to reduce the number and frequency of basement backups within the corporate limits of Aurora. Funding for this project will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program under ARRA. This will have the same terms, a 20-year, interest-free loan with the first 25 percent of principal forgiven by state and federal funding authorities.
   
• The City of Bushnell, a community of approximately 3,200 located in northeastern McDonough County, will utilize a $1,030,787 stimulus loan provided by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Public Water Supply Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, to complete improvements to the City’s public water supply. The City will focus this work on the replacement of major portions of the aging water distribution system. This project will build on a 2003 system improvement program which resolved capacity and treatment issues.
   
• The Urbana and Champaign Sanitary District (UCSD) serves approximately 134,000 residents in Champaign, Urbana, Savoy and a variety of unincorporated areas adjacent to the twin cities in Champaign County. The UCSD will be using the proceeds of a $20 million stimulus loan for continued Long Range Facility Plan improvements. Financing for the project will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible by passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
   
• Charleston will be utilizing the proceeds of a $7,963,545 stimulus loan to construct a variety of improvements to the City’s wastewater treatment plant. Funds will be used to construct, rehabilitate or replace components that have exceeded their useful life, including rehabilitation of influent pump stations, aeration/sludge tanks, primary clarifiers, the belt filter press and controls. This project will help resolve a long-standing history of periodic sanitary sewer overflows, a major violation of water pollution control regulations. Financing for the project will be provided by the IEPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible by passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
   
• The Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District provides regional wastewater treatment services to the communities of Chicago Heights, South Chicago Heights, Crete, Steger, Park Forest and Homewood from their regional facility located in Chicago Heights. The District will use the proceeds of a $633,440 stimulus loan to continue progress on the sanitary sewer collection system that serves the region. This project will aid the district in controlling the infiltration and inflow of non-sanitary flows to the sanitary system. Financing for the project will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible by passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
   
• The City of Flora, located in south central Clay County, will be using the proceeds of a $1,012,828 stimulus loan to construct approximately 7,000 linear feet of sewer and a submersible pump station to connect the unsewered West Wye area to City sewer service. The project will resolve a long-standing history of non-compliance with the state standards for private sewage disposal systems, and will provide service to commercial establishments and residences. Financing for the project will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible by passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
   
• The Liberty-Ledford Water District serves approximately 1,500 people in an area south and west of the City of Harrisburg in Saline County, and has for years suffered from a variety of water system deficiencies that have resulted in excessive pressure loss during peak demand periods, as well as considerable water loss on the system due to a leaking water supply main. The District will be using a $250,000 stimulus loan provided by the Illinois EPA’s Public Water Supply Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible by passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to make improvements in the system that will bring the supply into compliance with current construction code. The project will assure a safe and adequate source of drinking water for the citizens of the District both now and in the future.
   
• The City of LaSalle, in LaSalle County, will be utilizing the proceeds of a $15 million stimulus loan to construct a new wastewater treatment facility. The City needs additional wastewater capacity in the east side service area, due to anticipated population growth in the area over the next 10 to 20 years. This project is the first of three phased improvements the City will undertake to address these future needs. In addition, the new plant will be built to accommodate anticipated phosphorous removal standards associated with the City’s discharge to the Little Vermilion River. Financing for the project will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible by passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
   
• The Village of Millstadt, located in southwestern St. Clair County at the intersection of Illinois Routes 158 and 163, has been growing at a rapid pace over the last several years. The Village, already lacking the water storage capacity normally required for a system of this size, will be using $2,672,153 provided by the Illinois EPA’s Public Water Supply Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, to construct a new 500,000 gallon elevated storage tank to provide for the current and future populations. The new tower, with a storage capacity of 125,000 gallons, will replace an aging, undersized tank.
   
• The Ogle County City of Oregon, located along the Rock River, will be utilizing the proceeds of a $3,640,454 stimulus loan to replace the existing out-dated wastewater treatment equipment with more efficient and effective treatment technologies. Funds will be used to construct new process alternatives, and will maximize the re-use or continued use of existing facilities wherever possible. Financing for the project will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible by passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
   
• The City of Red Bud, a community of approximately 3,400 people located in Randolph County in southwestern Illinois, will utilize a $375,000 stimulus loan provided by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Public Water Supply Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, to construct improvements to the City’s water treatment plant that are designed to remove historically high iron content in the source water. This project will improve water aesthetics and eliminate the need for high dosages of chlorine and caustic soda currently used to reduce the effects of iron in the water.
   
• The Village of Rockbridge, in Greene County, is not currently served by sanitary sewer facilities. This has lead to public health violations and the discharge of inadequately treated sewage to ditches, tiles, and eventually to the waters of the state. The Village will be using a combination of unsewered community grant assistance and a $545,208 stimulus loan to extend sanitary sewer service throughout the Village. Loan funding will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible ARRA. The loan will be repaid over 20 years at zero interest, with 25 percent of the principal provided forgiven under the ARRA terms. The Village will also receive $2,013,878 in funding through the Illinois EPA’s unsewered community grants program, which assists communities to add expensive sanitary service in incorporated communities.
   
• St. Charles, located in Kane County, will be utilizing the proceeds of a $2,405,960 stimulus loan for a variety of improvements to the City’s wastewater lift stations. The current capacity is occasionally exceeded during heavy rainfall, causing the accumulation of sediments and odor problems. These improvements will eliminate odor problems and the risk of overflows on the system. Financing for the project will be provided by the IEPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible by passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
   
• The City of Washington, located in Tazewell County, will be utilizing the proceeds of a $7,554,185 stimulus loan to construct major upgrades to the City’s wastewater infrastructure. These improvements comprise the first of three phases that will upgrade and expand the City’s sewage treatment works, and will accommodate population growth that is expected to exceed 50 percent over the 20-year planning period. Financing for the project will be provided by the Illinois EPA’s Water Pollution Control Loan Program, using both state and ARRA money, under terms made possible by passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The list of communities requesting funds included 746 projects totaling $3.24 billion for wastewater projects and 895 projects totaling $1.46 billion for drinking water projects. Illinois EPA receives approximately $180 million for wastewater projects and $80 million for drinking water projects through ARRA. This demonstrates the significant need for infrastructure improvements in the state.